Luffy felt a pang shoot through his heart. "Shanks…" A tear rolled down his cheek.

Shanks turned. "What is it, Luffy?"

Luffy adjusted the too-big hat on his little head. "Don't go."

"Aw, Luffy," Shanks said, bending down until he was level with the boy's eyes. "Listen. Are you listening?"

Luffy looked into Shanks' eyes and nodded.

"I have to go. Otherwise my pirate career will all have been for nothing. Then I'll just become one of these city people you see every day. And I don't want that. You understand that, right?"

"But I'll get to see you more if you stay…" Luffy's face was wet now with salty tears.

"Luffy, look," Shanks said, wiping away Luffy's tears. "You're a strong guy, remember? You cut your own cheek to prove that you were strong. That takes guts." He took a breath. "You'll see me again, Luffy. After you achieve your dream and become King of the Pirates, we'll meet again. And then you give me back my hat. Okay?"

Luffy sniffed. He tried to thank Shanks for being such a great father to him, even if he wasn't really his father, but the words just wouldn't come. So he wrapped his arms around Shanks' neck instead. "I'll miss you," he whispered.

"I'll miss you too, Luffy," Shanks said, returning the hug.

"Don't forget about me, okay?"

Shanks chuckled. "There's no way I could forget about a guy as strong as you," he said. "I bet you could beat me in a fight right now." He let go of Luffy and stood.

"You think so?" Luffy looked up at him.

"Of course! Why, I bet you could even beat Ben! While he has his rifle!"

Luffy smiled. "Thank you, Shanks," he said, the words finally escaping.

"What did I ever do to deserve any thanks?"

"You…you were a father to me."

Shanks smiled, a tear in his eye. But he brushed it away before the boy or anyone else could see. He was supposed to be brave, strong, and magnificent. Not a sappy father. But that's who he truly was. He wasn't always the brave, undaunted captain everyone believed he was. He had love in him. And fear.

Shanks turned to go back to the ship. "And, Luffy?"

"Y-yeah?" he sniffled. Luffy was doing his best not to cry.

"Crying is okay sometimes, buddy. It shows that you have compassion."

Luffy nodded. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For…making your arm fall off."

Shanks laughed. "You didn't make my arm fall off," he said. "The sea dragon ate it, remember? I hope it gives him indigestion."

Luffy laughed, and then his smile turned serious. "I…love you, Shanks."

Shanks smiled at the boy whom he had loved, cared for, and been a friend to for so long. "I love you too, Luffy." Then he walked away towards the ship, his arm swinging by his side with every step.

As the ship pulled away, he stood at the stern watching Luffy. Suddenly he remembered something. "Luffy!" he called.

"What?"

"Don't mess up my hat!"

"I won't! I'll prove to you that I really am strong enough to be King of the Pirates!"

Shanks smiled and waved. "I know you will!"

Luffy waved back. "I'll miss you…"

My take on Shanks and Luffy's parting. This part made me so sad...